Sejong, February 14 - The Ministry of Environment (ME, Minister Han Wha-jin) announced the government’s plans to provide subsidies for replacing old boilers at home with eco-friendly ones. Ordinary households will receive 100,000 won, and low-income families will receive up to 600,000 won. In particular, low-income households can replace their old boilers at no cost if they select certain products from boiler manufacturers and sellers (Kyung Dong Navien, Kiturami) and receive government subsidies. Since 2017, the subsidy program for eco-friendly boiler replacement has supported replacing 1.09 million units. In 2023, the government will spend KRW 57 billion, including the local government budget, to replace up to 520,000 units. Residents can apply for subsidies online at the official website (www.greenproduct.go.kr/boiler) or by visiting the environmental department of the municipality in their jurisdiction. Boiler sellers may apply for support on behalf of the applicant. 

Eco-friendly boilers reduce air pollutants and GHG emissions by reducing the generation of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2). They also have a thermal efficiency of over 92%, about 12% higher than old boilers, which helps reduce fuel costs. According to a study by the Ministry of Environment and the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute, replacing old boilers with eco-friendly boilers reduces nitrogen oxides by about 87%, carbon monoxide by 70.5%, and carbon dioxide by 19% per year. As a result of lowering gas consumption due to improved thermal efficiency, residents can save up to KRW 440,000 in fuel costs per unit every year (based on gas rates as of January 2023).

The Ministry of Environment supported the replacement of 373,000 eco-friendly boilers in 2022, resulting in substantial annual reductions in air pollutant emissions (1,024 tons of nitrogen oxides, 1,540 tons of carbon monoxide, and 200,000 tons of carbon dioxide) and fuel cost savings of over KRW 100 billion. 

In particular, according to the Special Act on the Improvement of Air Quality in Air Control Zones, which has been in effect since April 2020, only eco-friendly (low NOx) boilers certified by the Minister of Environment must be manufactured, supplied, or sold in air control zones. The Ministry of Environment is providing eco-friendly boiler subsidies for areas in and outside air control zones to spread the use of eco-friendly boilers nationwide.

“We recommend replacing old household boilers with eco-friendly boilers because they have excellent environmental and economic performance,” said Park Yeon-jae, Director-General of the Air Quality Policy Bureau at the Minister of Environment. He added, “We will continue to pursue policies for supplying eco-friendly boilers.”

Contact: Han Sang-yoon, Deputy Director

Air Quality Management Division / +82-(0)44-201-6907

Foreign Media Contact: Chun Minjo(Rachel)

+82-(0)44-201-6055 / rachelmchun@korea.kr